Letter: cyanobactéries et toxiques

Serge Thivierge
Maire
Municipality of Lac-Simon
849, chemin Tour-du-Lac
PO BOX 3550
Lac-Simon, Chénéville (Québec)
J0V 1E0

RE: Water Quality of Lac Simon and La Petite-Nation - cyanobactéries et toxiques.

Maire Serge Thivierge,

The municipalities and retailers of La Petite-Nation must protect the waters of our lakes and rivers.

The municipalities and retailers of Cheneville, Lac Simon, and Duhamel must help protect Lac Simon.

The Metro, BMR and Home Hardware in Cheneville must promote & showcase healthy consumer products that are safe for Lac Simon.

I would argue for:

1. Phospherous Free Detergents

Detergents are a very large source of phosphorus. Metro, BMR and Home Hardware in Chenevillle and other towns of La Petite-Nation must promote phospherous free detergents.

2. Phospherous Free Fertilizers

Lawn fertilizers are a very large source of phosphorus. Reatailers such as BMR and Home Hardware in Chenevillle and other towns of La Petite-Nation should promote a low-phosphorous, organic fertilizer.

3. Human healthy, and environmental friendly household cleaners.

Metro, BMR and Home Hardware should promote household cleaners that have no toxic chemicals and are safe for humans and Lac Simon. These products end up in our septic tanks and seep into our lake and underground water table. Products from alternative manufacturers such as Ecover, Nature Clean, and Seventh Generation are a much better choice for human health and Lac Simon.

Our Lac Simon is a living breathing precious resource that deserves our respect and protection.

The municipalities of Cheneville, Lac Simon and Duhamel in conjunction with the retailers such as Metro, BMR and Home Hardware must promote (1) phospherous free detergents and fertilizers and (2) non toxic household cleaners.

For example, retailers in July/August could have an exterior Saturday exhibit showcasing and promoting phospherous free detergents and fertilizers as well as clean environmental friendly household cleaners. Municipalities could forward a flyer with taxes that outline steps to keep the lake healthy. SEPAQ could promote environmentaly safe beauty products (ex: shampoos) for campers on their web site, literature and gate entrance.

It must be coordinated to be effective.

Otherwise phospherous and toxic chemicals will continue to contaminate our Lac Simon and La Petite-Nation, our underground water table and all our drinking water.

Moreover, not only is this a human health and environmental concern but also an economic matter. All our property values are dependent on the water quality of Lac Simon and La Petite-Nation. Moreover, with 10,000 visitors/year, a clean Lac Simon is key to the economic growth of retailers and the tax base of all municipalities in La Petite-Nation.

What are your plans to address this issue, and can I be assured that you will take action on it.

Regards,

Paul Malouf

CC: Conseil de la Municipalite de Cheneville, Duhamel, Ripon, Plaisance, Lac des Plages, Montebello, Namur and Montpellier and SEPAQ, Andre Leblanc (Metro), Yves Gagnon (BMR).